No longer a Ragnar virgin...

I ran in my first Ragnar Relay this weekend!  It was the Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay, from Blaine, WA (on the Canadian border) to Langley, WA (approximately 200 miles).  I ran as part of a twelve-person team, divided into two vans.  Those of us in the first van left home on Thursday night, drove a few hours north, and spent the night in a hotel before waking up to begin running at 8:45 a.m. on Friday.  Our entire team was finished by late Saturday afternoon.  Our van ran the first six legs, and then we had a few hours to wait while our teammates in the second van ran the second six legs.  We switched off like that until we'd run a total of 36 legs.  

Each person on the team runs three legs of varying distances.  My first leg was 4.7 miles, my second was 8.2 miles, and my third was 3.2 miles.  I was only supposed to run 2.7 miles for my third leg, but I accidentally ran the wrong way for a little while.  Another team's van noticed and helped me get back on track.  Whoops.  I blame it on the extreme lack of sleep.  :) 

Most Ragnar teams decorate their vans and come up with hilarious/witty team names.  Some of my favorites were Strangers with Candy, Tortured Soles, Check Meowt (cat theme), That's What She Said, Scrambled Legs, Ragnafarians, and Chafing the Dream.  Our team name was Rio's Rejects, since we're all from the Olympia area, and therefore, Olympians.  Ha.  :)  We didn't get into it, theme-wise, as much as we wish we had, so we're already planning for next year.  Check out our sweet ride:

 My gorgeous team right before the start!  

Danika graciously let us stink up her van.  Thank goodness it has leather seats!  We were able to shower once, after we had all run two legs, but that meant that we had to each spend several hours marinating in our sweat.  We went to a hotel while the other van ran their next six legs, and showered and slept for a little while.  Ragnar = very little sleep for two days, but it's worth it!  

 Waiting for Wendy to run by during one of her legs so we could cheer her on and give her something to drink.  Most legs allowed us to leapfrog our runner, meaning that we could support each other with cheers and beverages.  Rangar also = waiting, but it's a lot of fun when you get to spend all those hours with hilarious, cool people.  

We were easily the best-looking team...

I really DO make that face!  

 Hot runnin' mamas!

After we ran a leg, we'd check it off as completed.  

At the starting area, in Blaine.  

The starting line!

Gina running the very first leg (light pink tank top), holding our "Olympic" torch.  

Danika getting some Gatorade in the middle of a beastly 8-miler.  It had so many hills!  

Danika handing off our "baton" (actually a slap bracelet that got so sweaty and gross) to Michelle at one of the exchanges.  

Danika running towards Christine during the beautiful sunset on Friday night.  

Wendy (in shorts) "killing" a competitor while texting.  The girl can multi-task!  :)

Gina waiting to take the bracelet from Wendy.  Starting at around 8 p.m., all competitors had to wear a reflective vest, and if you were actually running you also had to wear a headlamp and a flashing light on your back: the butt light.  Safety first!  :)  We also made the Olympic rings out of glow sticks, and attached them to our vests, but they ended up being too hard to see in the dark.  Dang.

I ran my second leg in the dark, around midnight on Saturday morning.  I'd never run at night before, and it was a unique, cool experience!  I ran in my own little bubble of light and music.  There were almost no street lights the entire 8.2 miles, which was a little freaky at times, but I knew I wasn't alone out there.

Wendy waving the slap bracelet, about to give it to Gina.

Christine at the end of our first six legs, torch in hand, ready to hand the slap bracelet to the runners in the other van.  

At the end of my last leg, enjoying being done and the beautiful views.  

We got to run on Whidbey Island on Saturday.  Even on a cloudy day, it's pretty spectacular!

What a fantastic place to run!

These pictures don't really do it justice...

While we supported Wendy on her 8-miler on Saturday morning, we took advantage of the amazing scenery to snap some pics...

Me.  By the ocean.  With a very wrinkly forehead.  

We made Wendy stop mid-run for a drink and a picture.  Check out the first huge hill she had to run up in the background!  And yes, I do look like a dorky creeper, photo-bombing their otherwise lovely picture.  

Van 1!  This was at the final exchange, when we passed the slap bracelet off to Van 2 for their final six legs.

Our entire team (minus one), at the final exchange.

Van 2 at the very end of the entire relay!  We didn't stick around for this part, as we all needed to get home to our families.  

Part of our drive home included a beautiful and windy ferry ride.

Our husbands are very lucky men.  ;)  

And I feel lucky to have been able to run with these fun, hilarious, kind women.  Until next year, Ragnar!